When Joe Thompson returned home from his shop, he saw his wife talking to Maggie sitting on the bed with her back towards the window. Then he was trying to read the character of their conversation. From Maggie’s facial expression he came to know that his wife was asking questions and the girl was uttering a few words in answers. Though her expression was sad and tender, there was no sign of bitterness or pain.

Joe was greatly relieved from Maggie’s facial expressions as he now knew that there was nothing cruel or alarming in his wife’s treatment of the child, something he was afraid of so far. So he took a deep breath followed by one of relief, as a weight lifted itself from his heart.